The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, proposed by Rep. Chip Roy, aims to amend the National Voter Registration Act by requiring in-person documentation to register or update voter information. Critics argue it would disenfranchise millions, especially people of color, women, and rural residents, while failing to address the minimal issue of noncitizen voting. The act could eliminate mail and online registration, severely impacting voter participation.
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, introduced by Rep. Chip Roy, is a contentious piece of legislation aiming to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. The bill mandates that all Americans provide documentary proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, each time they register or update their voter registration. Critics argue that this requirement could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters, particularly affecting women, people of color, and rural residents. The proposed changes threaten to undermine the current voter registration system by eliminating mail and online registration options, thereby complicating the voting process for many citizens.
The SAVE Act proposes significant changes to the voter registration process, effectively ending mail and online registration. Under the act, Americans would need to present original citizenship documentation in person to register or update their voter information, a requirement that would be impractical for millions, especially those in rural areas. The act would also abolish voter registration drives and severely limit automatic voter registration, setting back technological advancements in voter registration by decades. Moreover, the legislation does not accept driver's licenses or military IDs as sufficient proof of citizenship, further complicating the process for many individuals [1] [2].
The SAVE Act's documentation requirements are expected to disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, including people of color, low-income individuals, and women. According to a survey by the Brennan Center, over 21 million Americans lack the necessary documents to meet the bill's requirements. Married women who have changed their names and younger voters are particularly at risk of being disenfranchised. The act does not recognize name changes or marriage certificates as valid documentation, posing a significant barrier for many women. Critics argue that the act could lead to voter suppression, as similar laws in states like Kansas have already blocked tens of thousands of eligible voters [2] [3].
Proponents of the SAVE Act argue it is necessary to prevent noncitizen voting, despite studies consistently debunking the myth of widespread noncitizen participation in elections. The act's supporters claim that it would ensure election integrity, but critics highlight that existing laws already provide stringent measures to prevent noncitizen voting. An audit in Georgia revealed that only 20 noncitizens out of 8.4 million registered voters attempted to vote, a minuscule figure that had no impact on the election outcome. Critics argue that the SAVE Act's real aim is voter suppression, as it would disproportionately affect marginalized communities while providing little benefit in terms of election security [2] [4].
The SAVE Act, while positioned as a measure to protect election integrity, faces significant criticism for potentially disenfranchising millions of eligible voters. By imposing stringent documentation requirements, it threatens to undermine democratic participation, particularly among historically marginalized groups. Critics argue that the act's focus on noncitizen voting is misplaced, given the lack of evidence supporting widespread noncitizen participation in elections. As the bill progresses through Congress, its potential impact on voter access and the democratic process remains a contentious issue, with calls for lawmakers to focus on genuine barriers to voting.
"This bill isn't being attacked because it'll exclude citizens from voting — it won't. It's being attacked because the policy is wildly popular with the American people." - Representative Chip Roy
"More than 21 million Americans are unable to access the additional documents that would be required to register to vote under the SAVE Act." - Campaign Legal Center